Blast furnace cooling jacket

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for uniformly distributing a flowing coolant on the external surfaces of a metallurgical furnace, as e.g. a blast furnace, which comprises a trough extending circumferentially of the furnace and having divider plate means in the trough for reducing turbulence in the trough and to assure even flow of coolant from the trough.

tates Patent [191 [451 July 3, 1973 s11, FURNACE coouuo JACKET Amon Pete Cowger, Jr., 9938 Hilltop Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21234 sFlled: Dec. 23, 1971 Appl. No.: 211,225

entor:

US. Cl. .j 266/32 int. Cl, F27b 1/24 Field of Search 263/44; 266/32 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,4l3 2/1905 Brightbil] 266/32 Primary Examiner-Gerald A. Dost Attorney-Joseph J. OKeefe [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for uniformly distributing a flowing coolant on the external surfaces of a metallurgical furnace, as e.g. a blast furnace, which comprises a trough extending circumferentially of the furnace and having divider plate means in the trough for reducing turbulence in the trough and to assure even flow of coolant from the trough.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 3, 1973 3,743,262

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Amon Cowger Jr.

Patented July 3, 1973 3,743,262

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Amon P Cowger J: BY

BLAST FURNACE COOLING JACKET BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Generally, external cooling of the bosh jacket of a metallurgical furnace is accomplished by spray pipes. The pipes extend circumferentially of the furnace and are provided with a plurality of closely spaced holes from which water is directed against the furnace jacket. This method of cooling causes water to splash and be distributed unevenly on the jacket, resulting in the use of an excessive amount of water to properly cool the jacket. Furthermore, holes in the spray pipes are susceptible to clogging which results in uneven flow, thus compounding the problem of distribution of coolant.

It is an object therefore of this invention to provide for efficient external cooling of the bosh jacket of a blast furnace by means of apparatus that distributes a uniform curtain of coolant over the entire surface of the bosh jacket.

It is a further object of this invention to provide means for assuring an even flow of coolant circumferentially of an unevenly settled furnace.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide means for cooling the bosh jacket of a blast furnace with a minimum amount of coolant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Apparatus for accomplishing these objects includes a trough extending circumferentiallyof the bosh jacket near the mantle of the furnace and comprises a plurality of short cooling box sections, each section having a separate supply of coolant. The trough is designed to direct the overflowing water against the jacket and to distribute the water curtain evenly around the jacket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TI-IEDRAWINGS DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the application of the instant invention to the bosh section of a blast furnace will be described. The bosh section 10 of blast furnace l l is generally that section between the furnace mantle ring 12 and the tuyere 13 and includes a solid welded shell bosh jacket 14 exterior of and surrounding the furnace lining 15. Trough 16 of the instant invention, to be described in detail hereinafter, extends circumferentially of furnace 11, at the top of welded shell bosh jacket 14 and just beneath mantle ring 12. Adjacent to the bottom of trough 16 and spaced a short distance therefrom is a spray pipe 17 for emergency backupsupply of coolant. Intermediate the mantle ring 12 and the tuyere 13 a splash plate 18 is mounted circumferentially of the furnace at an angle thereto with the bottom edge spaced away slightly from the furnace bosh jacket 14 to allow flow of coolant down the jacket. Trough 19 mounted circumferentially of the furnace 11 at the bottom of bosh jacket 14 and, just above the tuyere 13 is for the purpose of collecting the coolant and directing it through a drain to a storagereservoir (not shown) for recycling in the furnace cooling system. Coolant supply system 30 which will be described in more detail hereinafter is mounted adjacent trough 16 to supply coolant to the trough 16. Spray pipe 20 is provided just below splash plate 18 to supplement the flow of coolant on the jacket 14 if desired.

It will be seen in FIG. 2 to which particular reference is now made that trough 16 is comprised of a plurality of short cooling box sections 21 mounted adjacent one another but separated either by end plates 22 or a short space 23. The separation by a short space 23 is dictated by local conditions of the furnace in the area of trough 16, e.g. structural members. However, the separation is so slight as to be inconsequential in the effect on the desired uniform cooling of the bosh jacket 14.

The short individual cooling box section 21 is seen in FIG. 3 to comprise a portion of furnace bosh jacket 14, two wedge shaped end plates 22 attached to jacket 14 as by welding and plate 24 which forms an upwardly and outwardly extending wall portion or front face of trough 16. Plate 24 is attached to the wedge shaped plates 22, as by welding, with the upper end 25 of the trough slightly below the top edges of wedge plates 22. The upper end 25 of plate 24 is seen to have a curved surface thereon which curves outwardly from the inner surface of plate 24 in the direction of flow of coolant thereover. The water overflows the curved edges of the trough 16 and flows down the outside of the bosh jacket 14. A plurality of divider plates 26 are mounted on the inner face of plate 24 in spaced relation and extending above the upper end 25 of plate 24 and extending downwardly into the trough a short distance. The curved upper end 25 of the cooling box section 21 forms the crest of the trough 16. The divider plates 26 should be relatively thin, e.g. one-fourth inch to one half inch, in order to minimize the slight obstruction at 28 to a continuous curtain of water. It is clear that the water overflowing the crest will rejoin in a continuous curtain as it flows down plate 24. FIG. 4 clearly shows the arrangement of divider plates 26 with respect to the upper end 25 of wall portion or plate 24.

The supply piping 30 as seen in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 comprises a plurality of fill pipes 31 for supplying coolant, as e.g. water, to the individual cooling box sections 21 fed by suitable piping from a supply main (not shown). The discharge end of the fill pipes 31 is beveled as is clearly shown in FIG. 4 so that the cross-sectional surface of the fill pipe 31 at its discharge end is parallel to the surface of the water in the box section 21. It has been found that beveling the discharge end of the fill pipe 31 in this manner helps to cut down on coolant splashing and turbulence. Although a plurality of fill pipes 31 are provided for each cooling box section 21, only one is shown in FIG. 3 for clarity. The fill pipe 31 is shown discharging above the water level. It should be understood that the instant invention is equally applicable where the fill pipe discharges below the water surface.

The instant invention provides a means for assuring an even flow of water from the circumferential trough 16 even though the'furnace may settle leaving one side lowenthan the, other. The separate short cooling box sections 21 which are individually supplied with water are not affected by settling of the furnace. The troughs are installed in short sections to prevent the water from overflowing on the low side should the furnace settle unevenly and further prevents the trough from cracking when the jacket expands from heat. Therefore, even though one side of the furnace is lower than the other, each cooling box section will flow evenly. The curved edge of the crest or upper end 25 of plate 24 directs the overflowing water against the jacket. The divider plates 26 have the additional effect of reducing the turbulence of the water as it flows into trough 16 from the several fill pipes 31 and overflows the upper end 25 of plate 24 thus distributing the flow substantially evenly throughout the extent of the crest or upper end 25 of plate 24 of the individual cooling boxes 21.

The instant invention thus provides for an evenly distributed curtain of cooling water on the circumferential surface of the bosh jacket of a furnace and includes means to supplement the flow as well as to collect the residual coolant for recycling, resulting in a minimum of coolant loss.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace having a portion enclosed by a steel shell comprising:

a. a trough extending circumferentially of said shell and comprising a wall portion extending upwardly a'nd outwardly from said shell and having an upper end,

b. means for supplying a coolant to said trough, and c. divider plate means in said trough adjacent said upper end of said wall portion for reducing the turbulence ofcoolant in said trough. 2. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 wherein said upper end of said wall portion has a curved surface which curves outwardly in the direction of flow of said coolant thereover. 3. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 wherein said trough comprises a plurality of individual cooling boxes and each said cooling box is supplied with coolant by said coolant supplying means. 4. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 further including (1. means below said trough to reclaim said coolant. 5. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 4 wherein said upper end of said wall portion has a curved surface in the direction of flow of said coolant thereon, and said trough comprises a plurality of individual cooling boxes and each said cooling box is supplied with coolant by said coolant supplying means. t l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 743 262 Dated J l 3 1 7 lnventofls) AMON PETE COWGER, JR.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover shcetr insert [73] Assignee Bethlehem Steel Corporation, a corporationof Delaware Signed and sealed this 22nd day of January 1974.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. RENE D. TEGTMEY ER Attesting Officer Acting Commissioner of Patents 

1. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace having a portion enclosed by a steel shell comprising: a. a trough extending circumferentially of said shell and comprising a wall portion extending upwardly and outwardly from said shell and having an upper end, b. means for supplying a coolant to said trough, and c. divider plate means in said trough adjacent said upper end of said wall portion for reducing the turbulence of coolant in said trough.
 2. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 wherein said upper end of said wall portion has a curved surface which curves outwardly in the direction of flow of said coolant thereover.
 3. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 wherein said trough comprises a plurality of individual cooling boxes and each said cooling box is supplied with coolant by said coolant supplying means.
 4. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 1 further including d. means below said trough to reclaim said coolant.
 5. Apparatus for cooling the exterior surface of a metallurgical furnace according to claim 4 wherein said upper end of said wall portion has a curved surface in the direction of flow of said coolant thereon, and said trough comprises a plurality of individual cooling boxes and each said cooling box is supplied with coolant by said coolant supplying means. 